The Best Cooking and Baking Classes in New York City

New York City is known for having some of the best, most diverse food in the world. Wander down a street and you’ll stumble upon traditional soul-soothing pho; one street over, you might just find the best Italian-owned pizza joint in town. But for those nights spent in—or when the eating-out budget is feeling a tad tight!—cooking meals at home is a crucial skill to have in the week’s rotation, and it happens to be a skill that many New Yorkers, this writer included, lack.

But fear not—if the desire to learn is there, the city has a large variety of top-notch cooking and baking classes, no matter your initial expertise. Whether you want to perfect the classic New York slice of pizza, or find fresh takes on vegan dishes, the city’s offerings are wide.

Below, 11 of New York City’s best culinary classes.

Pastries at Mille-Feuille BakeryLocated in Greenwich Village, the Mille-Feuille Bakery is owned by the Paris-trained pastry chef Olivier Dessyn. Here, learn the best of French pastry making in classes that are all taught by Parisian chefs. Its most recognized classes are its French macaron and croissant how-tos, though its mille-feuille and eclair courses also make for an equally tasty end result.

Beginner’s guide at the International Culinary CenterIn SoHo, the International Culinary Center offers a wide-ranging selection of cooking courses for novice chefs. Its one-day classes include everything from the basics of sushi to French, Korean, or Mexican classics. Basic courses, such as knife skills, are also available.

Italian fare at Eataly’s La ScuolaEataly—the Italian food mecca that is part restaurant, part marketplace—offers its own cooking school, La Scuola. At its Flatiron location, the pizza and pasta courses are, unsurprisingly, the real standouts. And the best part of the whole class? Most of them come with two complementary glasses of wine or beer.

Crowd-pleasing desserts at Milk BarMilk Bar is known for its iconic treats like crack pie, birthday cake, and cereal milk ice cream—and now you can make them at home. The “bake the book” series is held at the shop’s Brooklyn headquarters, where you can learn how to make the crack pie, chocolate cake, and a large selection of different truffle flavors.

Fine, a cocktail course may not be cooking per se—but every proper meal needs a drink pairing, no? At Apothéke Academy in Chinatown, learn the art of mixology: explore pairing alcohols with different types of herbs and ingredients. Classes are offered every other Saturday.

Would it be a New York cooking class roundup without a pizza course? The Pizza School on the Lower East Side offers a four-hour workshop focused on perfecting the essential pizza pie (made entirely from scratch, of course). Learn how to make the dough and sauce, and to find the right balance of different toppings every time.

The chef’s basics at Brooklyn KitchenThe “learn how to cook” five-week series at Brooklyn Kitchen offers an intensive crash course for beginners. If the thought of holding a sharp knife is still scary to you, learn basic skills such as cutting (its knife skills course is a standout), then graduate to meal prep for the week ahead, and more—including a few secret pro tricks along the way.

Seasonal dishes at Haven’s KitchenHaven’s Kitchen in Chelsea offers cooking courses focused on local and seasonal ingredients, all in a rustic kitchen setting on the top floor of a townhouse. Learn farm-to-table style cooking in a variety of genres: vegan, Mexican, mezza platters...they have it all. Some of the courses are also inspired by dishes at various culinary hotspots, like L.A.’s Gjelina.

Cheese making at Murray’s CheeseCheese lovers, rejoice: Murray’s Cheese provides courses that will prep you to make your own artisanal cheeses at home. Perfect the art of a creamy burrata or sharp mozzarella, and then impress your friends at your next wine-and-cheese gathering. If you really want to take your hosting to the next level? Cheese and wine-pairing classes are also offered.

Cupcakes 101 at Butter LaneIn the East Village, cupcake aficionados can learn the basics at Butter Lane. From tackling that tricky—and oftentimes, messy—mixer, to perfecting crafty icing on top, this two-hour class will give you the skills to master that perfect housewarming treat. (Plus, with the holidays coming up, you can get festive with your decorating.)